A recent national survey by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that more than 1 in 4 young adults don’t have a primary care provider. For Gen Zers who do have a physician, most skip scheduled checkups or don’t schedule them: Only 47% of 18- to 29-year-olds said they have had an annual wellness visit in the past year.

Consequences of Skipping Doctor Visits

Skippping doctor visits in early adulthood could have severe consequences, experts say, noting that missed prevention opportunities earlier in life can lead to greater chances of developing later-in-life diseases and conditions. In recent years, colorectal cancer rates have skyrocketed in younger adults, becoming the leading cause of cancer deaths for people younger than 50.

“An annual visit isn’t just about today’s health — it helps identify future risks, keeps preventive care on schedule and gives you a trusted clinician who knows your medical history and can help navigate health concerns, be they physical health or mental health concerns, as they arise,” said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University.

Challenges in Healthcare

Rural areas and overcrowded cities are especially stretched thin when it comes to accessing affordable and quality healthcare. The survey’s findings are “consistent with results from other studies about young adults being less likely to have a primary care doctor,” said Dr. Russell Phillips, senior adviser on innovation in the primary care division of general medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Healthcare staffing challenges will likely worsen, according to a 2025 US Health Resources and Services Administration projection, with the agency predicting a shortage of 70,610 primary care doctors by 2038. Rising healthcare costs can also have some Gen Zers debating whether medical appointments are worth the expense.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.